US2305266A - Wire bending machine - Google Patents

Description

1942- J. c. LINCOLN EI'ALV 2,305,266

INVENTORS JOHN E- u/vcauv BY WILL/HM H-NEE'LY svewzl 5- sauna/$00227 8 1 WHORNEY.

Dec. 15, 1942. 4 J. c. LINCOLN ETAL 6 WIRE BENDING MACHINE Filed Dec. 24-, 1940 Q 11 Sheeqs-Sheet s 1942- J. c. LINCOLN ETAL 2,305,266

WIRE BENDING' MACHINE Filed Dec. 24, 1940 1'1 Sheets-Sheet 4 1 Jam: c-uucouv WILL/HM H-NEL) V INVENTOR6 BY \svewp E-Baunsmsmmr W. ATTORNEY.

Dec. 15, 1942.

J. c. LINCOLN ETl'AL 2,305,266

WIRE BENDING MACHINE 11 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Dec. 24, 1940 Dec. 15, 1942.

J. C. LINCOLN ETAL WIRE BENDING MACHINE Filed Dec. 24, 1940 llSheets-Sheet e l I I 1 INVENTORS JOHN C- Ll/VL'DLN WILL/HM H- NE'EL-Y SVE'NZI 5'- BLUNENSfi/ZFT' Dec. 15, 19 J. c. LINCOLN ETAL WIRE BENDING MACHINE Filed Dec. 24, 1940 ll Sheets-Sheet 7 INVENTORS JOHN L" LIINC'ULN WILL/HM H-NC'ELY SVEND B'Bl-UHENSHHPT 2P W M.

Dec. 15, 1942. QALINCOLN EIAL WIRE BENDING MACHINE Filed Dec. 24, 1940 ll Sheets-Sheet 8 INVENTORS JOHN L Lmvcu/v WILL/HM H'NEELY ave/v17 5 -.8L m-wsmnr Dec. 15, 1942- J. c. LINCOLN ETAL WIRE BENDING MACHINE ll Sheets-Sheet 9 Filed Dec. 24, 1940 Dec. 1 5, 1942.

J. c. LINCOLN ETAL 2,305,266

WIRE BENDING MACHINE Filed Dec. 24, 1940 11 Sheets-Sheet 1O 'F'IE '19 INVENTORS JOHN C'- L/NL'DLN BY WILLIHM H- NEEL) SVENH 5- BLUMENSFRDT J. c. LINCOLN EI'IAL 2,305,266

WIRE BENDING MACHINE Dec. 15, 1942.

11 Sheets-Sheet 11 Filed Dec. 24, 1940 INVE R5 28 JOHN L' um'm svmp 5 mums/vamp? Patented Dec. 15, 1942 WIRE BENDING MACHINE John 0. Lincoln, Scottsdale, Arlz, William H.

Neely,

Cleveland, and Svend G. Blumcnsaadt,

Cleveland Heights, Ohio, assignors to The Universal Wire Spring 00., Cleveland, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application December 24, 1940, Serial No. 371,54

64 Claims. This invention relates to wire bending or corrugating machines producing either continuously or intermittently zigzag bent or sinuously corrugated wire such as used -for making springs for seat and back structures, cushions and the like, and more particularly to wire bending or corrugating machines in which a plurality of rotated cooperating cam arms or bell cranks alternately engage and bend a wire in opposite directions as the wire passes between the cam arms, as for example shown and described in Moyers U. S. Patent No. 1,727,894, dated September 10, 1929. It is well known that wire bending machines of the character described have limited speed of operation due to the fact that the wire bending levers of the bell cranks in these machines rotate about spaced centers in opposite directions and are moved alternately between each other and beyond a medial line between their centers of rotation by means of stationary cams, the limited space between the centers of rotation prohibiting use of other suitable operating means for the bell cranks. In addition, wire bending machines of the character referred to are not adjustable and therefore cannot properly corrugate wires of different thickness and difierent phys ical properties, to wit: control the length of the corrugated wire and the number of its corrugations per foot, except by exchange of the bell cranks and their stationary operating means, a procedure which, of course, is very undesirable.

It is the general object of the present invention to provide a wire bending machine of the type referred to above in which the bell cranks are rotated in parallel planes about a single axis and in which the bell cranks are actuated by rotary cam means to effect shifting of the levers of the bell cranks toward and through a plane between said parallel planes, all for the purpose of speeding up corrugating operations and permitting of better control of bending wires which vary in physical properties such as thickness, elasticity, hardness, etc.

Such a general object of the invention according to the invention is attained by rotatably mounting spaced rows of co-operating bell cranks on a rotatably mounted, driven cylinder or master wheel and actuating these bell cranks in timed relation with respect to each other by means of oppositely driven cam means which are rotatably mounted opposite the side faces of the master wheel and driven in timed relation with respect to said wheel.

Further important objects of this invention are to provide a wire bending machine adapted to 55 (Cl. Mil-1 1)v produce corrugated or sinously shaped wire accurately, rapidly and inexpensively, the ma-' chine being ofas simple a design and low cost as possible and practical and eiilcient for all purposes intended.

Additional objects and novel features of construction, combinations and relations of parts by which the objects in view have been attained will appear and are set forth in detail in the course of the following specification.

The drawings accompanying and forming part of the specification illustrate certain practical embodiments of the invention, but it will be apparent as the specification proceeds that the structure maybe modified and changed in various ways without departure from the true spirit and broad scope of the invention.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a wire bending machine according to the invention.

Fig. 2 is a. front elevation partly in section of the wire bending machine shown in Fig. 1. v

Fig. 3 is a transversal sectional view through the wire bending machine shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the section being taken on line 33 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a cross sectional view on line 4-4 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a cross sectional view on line 5-5 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged plan view of the wire guiding device arranged at the intake side of the wire bending machine- Fig. '7 is a side view of the wire guiding device shown in Fig. 6.

5 Fig. 8 is a front view of said wire guiding device.

Fig. 9 is a plan view of the wire guiding and hold down device arranged at the outlet side of the wire bending machine.

Fig. 10 is a side view ofthe device. shown in Figl 9. 1

Fig. 11 is a sectional view through the bell cranks supporting the master wheel of the wire bending machine showing in elevation the rotary 45 bell crank actuating cam means and in dotted lines the guiding cams for the bell cranks and the stationary cams for the stripping pins.

Figs. 12, 13 and 14 are diagrammatic views showing successive steps in the bending opera- 5o tion of a wire; thus Fig. 12 shows the position of the master wheel and one of its bell cranks shortly after the begmninl'1k g of the bending of the wire by such bell cra Fig. 13 shows the position of the master wheel the shafts II, II supports a large spur gear l1, II respectively, which meshes with a small spur gear. II, II respectively, on shafts II, ll of two driving motors 24, 2|.

These motors ro- 5 tate in opposite directionswith respect to each and the said bell crank after completion of its bending operation on the wire in which position-the bell crank has been rotated back from the overthrow position to the locking position and is ready to engage the guiding means guiding the bell crank during stripping operations.

Fig. 15 shows an intermittently corrugated wire structure in which the corrugations are arranged in the, central portion of the wire.

Fig. 16 shows diagrammatically the arrangement of starting and stopping blocks or plugs which in cooperation with the bell cranks effect bending of a wire to the wire structure disclosed in Fig. 15. V

Fig. 17 shows an intermittently corrugated wire structure somewhat similar to the structure shown in Fig. 15 with the exception that the end portions of the wire structure are axially aligned with each other and the corrugated portion of the wire structure.

Fig. 18 shows diagrammatically the arrangement of starting and stopping bell cranks cooperating with the other bell cranks in bending a wire to the wire structure disclosed in Fig. 17.

Figs. 19 through 22 are side views of the pairwise cooperating bell cranks; thus Fig. 19 is a side view of a left-handed upper bell crank;

Fig. 20 is a side view of a right-handed upper bell crank;

Fig. 21 is a side view of a left-handed lower bell crank;

Fig. 22 is a side view of a right-handed lower bell crank.

Fig. 23 is a perspective view of the cam member actuating the stripping pins.

Fig. 24 is a perspective view of the cam member preventing rotation of the bell cranks during stripping operations.

Fig. 25 is a fragmentary side view partly in section of the operating mechanism effecting change of the relative rotary positions between the master wheel and the bell crank operating rotary cams.

Fig. 26 is a sectional view on line 26--26 of Fig. 25.

Fig. 27 is a sectional view of a somewhat modified cam structure for positive actuation of the stripping pins, the section being taken on line 21-21 of Fig. 28; and

Fig. 28 is a sectional view on line 28-28 of Fig. 2'7.

Referring first to Figs. 1 through 3 it will be seen that the wire bending machine embodies a frame or housing 2 made of two substantially U-shaped castings 3, 3', the flanges 4 of which are secured to 'each other by means of bolts 8 in flanges 6 laterally extended from flanges 4. Housing 2mounts in roller bearings 1 a main drive shaft 8 which is extended through the opposite walls II of housing 2 and carries rigidly secured to its central portion a master wheel 5. Shaft 8 also mounts on its outwardly extended two end portions Ill, l0 gear hubs II, II respectively, which adjustably support bevel gear rings l2, l2. These bevel gear rings mesh with bevel pinions l4, l4 integrally formed on parallel, vertically rotatable shafts l5, l5, which shafts are mounted in bearings It, It.

other and eflect rotation of shafts II, II in opposite directions and rotation of main drive shaft 8, as will best be understood from inspection of Fig. 2 of the drawi s. Shafts l8, l5 mount cams 2|, 2| which operating wire bending bell cranks 22, 22' and 22, 22' pivotally secured to master wheel 8. These bell'cranks are arranged in co-operating relationship with respect to each other and form sets of left-handed and right-handed structures. Each of these bell cranks embodies a pivot shaft 24 rotatably supporting the bell crank on master wheel 8, a laterally extended wire bending lever 25 with a rounded end portion 24, a laterally extended cam supporting lever 21 with a cam member 28, and an upwardly extended'guiding finger 2! adapted to prevent rotary movements of the bell crank in a predetermined area. The bell cranks 22, 22' differentiate from the bell cranks 23, 23 only by the location of their cams 2|, thus, bell cranks 22, 22' include cam 28 extended upwardly from their cam supporting levers 21, and bell cranks 23. 23' include cams 28' extended downwardly from their cam supporting levers 21, an arrangement which permits of congested mounting of the bell cranks on master wheel 8 for effecting the desired corrugations of a wire.

Bell cranks 22, 22' and 22, 22' are mounted on master wheel 9 in parallel rows of radial bores 30, 30' and are extended with their shafts 24 through peripheral flanges 2|, 3| on said master wheel so that the shafts 24 are freely rotatable in bores Ill, 30'. The ends 33 of shafts 24 are threaded and carry nut members 22 screwed upon said ends to prevent axial shifting of the shafts in said bores. In addition, bell cranks 22, 22 and 23, 23' are yleldingly held in alignment by coil springs, to effect proper co-operation of the cams 2|, 2! with cams 2|, 2|, which springs automatically return the bell cranks to their starting positions. The bores of the rows of bores 34, 20' are offset with respect to each other, that is, the bores in one row are arranged opposite the spaces between adjacent bores of the other rows to permit offree swinging movement of levers 2! toward and through a plane midway between the two rows of bores.

Cams 2 I, 2| each include 180 offset cam levers 25, I8 and I5, 26" respectively, which levers rotate in different planes with respectto each other, and cam levers 35, ii on cam 2| are 90 offset with respect to cam levers 25', 26' on cam 2| to effect alternate, timed inward swinging movement of bell cranks 22, 22' when lever arms 35, 35 engage cams 24 on bell cranks 22, 22' and lever arms 38, I8 engage cams 28 on bell cranks 22, 23'. The motors 20, 2| rotate the master wheel 2 and the shafts l5; I! in such a manner that lever arms 25, 38 and 35', 36 on cams 2|, 2| move in opposite direction and in a direction opposite to the direction of rotation of the upper portion of master wheel's. This arrangement accelerates wire bending operations without excessive rotary speed of shafts II, i5 and permits of proper control of wire bending operations by adjusting the relative rotary positions of the bell cranks with respect to the cams 2|, 2| and their Each of lever arms II,- and I5, I". For such purpose ctuate pairs of cogear rings l2, l2 are rotatably n gunted on gear hubs II, N by arranging in thegcircumferential fla g'e .3'l of each gear hub curved slots 38 for '38 which are extended through said slots and threadedly engaged with the respective gear ring. Shifting of the gear rings on their respective gear hubs is effected by oppositely arranged axially aligned scriw members 48 which engage a threaded bore 48' in slotted portion 4| of flange 3], extend with their ends into the slot 42 in said portion 4| and engage the opposite sides of a block 43, pivotally secured to the respective gear ring. When screw members are rotated in opposite directions gear ring |2 will be shifted with respect to its gear hub and will change the relative position of cams2l, 2| on shafts |5, |5' with respect to the bell cranks.

For continuous or intermittent wire corrugating'operations a wire 44 is fed through housing 2 to the top of master wheel 8 and while advancing over the top of said master wheel is corrugated by the bell cranks 22, 22' and 23, 23'. During and after these corrugating operations the wire is stripped from the end portions 25 of wire bending lever 25 by means of stripper pins 45 radially, slidably mounted in rows of bores 48 in the peripheral flanges 3|, 3| on master wheel 9. Bores 48, which are arranged in parallel rows between the bores of the rows of bores 38, 38', mount a stripper pin for each of the bell cranks. These stripper pins extend through the bores 48 and have their inner ends 45 seated upon and yieldingly forced toward peripheral, inclined shoulders 58, 58' on circumferential enlargements 5| of master wheel 8. To that effect each stripper pin carries near its inner end a washer 52 held in place by a pin 53 and is forced against the respective shoulder 58, 58' by a coil spring 54 which seats on said washer and engages the inner surface of the respective flange 3|, 3|. The stripper which are thus automatically retracted to neutral position, are actuated by stationary cam means 55 on housing 2, secured thereto by means of bolts 55. Cam means 55 actuate the stripper pins when these pins are in a predetermined area during rotation of master. wheel 8 and effect stripping of thewire from levers 25 in a horizontal plane.

When entering housing 2, wire 44 is fed through a wire feed guide and hold-down device 51 mounted on housing 2 and attached thereto.

by means of bolts 58'. This device embodies a substantially rectangularly shaped base plate 58 provided with upwardly extended spaced, axially aligned and perforated ear portions 58 and an ex- ..tension 58, the lower surface of which is rounded and recessed near its end portion to form a stationary bell crank shifting spreader cam 5| for automatically returning the bell cranks to their stationary positions should springs 34 fail to reset these bell cranks after corrugating and stripping operations. The base plate 58 mounts a wire guide 52 consisting of a bottom plate 53 and a top plate 54, which latter is recessed at its bottom face so as to form between plates 53 and 54 a short channel 55 with parallel side walls and a longer channel 55 with flaring side walls. Channels 55 and 55 are axially aligned and form holder 51 is secured in its adjusted position by a screw member 13 threadedly engaged with base plate 54. Screw member 13 has its upper end extended through a bore in plate 58 and holds the pivot holder in adjusted position by nut members I4, 15 threaded on member 13 and contacting the opposite faces of plate 68. The front end 15 of pivot arm holder 51 is perforated at 11 and mounts a pin I8 which rotatably supports a pivot arm 18. This arm carries at its front end a finger 88 adapted to engage the top of wire 44 during wire bending operations and at its rear portion an extension 8| which co-operates with means 82 yieldingly holding pivot arm 18 in neutral position. These means consist of two axially aligned spring pressed pins 82'. slidably mounted in perforated, oppositely arranged, aligned extensions 83, 83 on pivot arm holder 51. Pins 82' are forced into engagement with extension 8| by means of compression springs 84 which are held under proper tension by screw members 85 threadedly engaged with extensions 83, 83. Preferably, the wire feed and hold-down device 51 has secured to its rear end a short wire guiding pipe section 85 which is aligned with channel 55 and clamped to base plate 58 by means of a bracket 81 attached to base plate 58 by bolts 88.

When the wire has been corrugated and stripped from its bending levers 25 by stripper pins 45, same is guided through a wire guiding device 88 embodying a supporting base member 88, a bottom plate 8|, a top plate 82 separated from said bottom plate by spaced separator plates 83, and laterally spaced, pivotally mounted guide arms 84, 84'. In this device bottom plate 8|, top plate 82 and separator plates 83 form a channel 85 through which the finished wire is discharged from housing 2. The pivotally mounted arms 84, 84', which extend with their a guide or passage for wire 44 permitting limited free ends into the wire corrugating zone of the machine, engage with said ends the loops of the corrugated wire and yieldingly force the coils downwardly. To that effect the arms 84, 84' are bridged by a cross bar 81 contacting the upper faces of said arms, which cross bar is yieldingly forced against said arms by means of spring 88 on bolt 88' threadedly engaged with guide block I88. Top plate 82 and bottom plate 8| also have their front edges IM and I82 decreased in thickness to facilitate guiding of the wire 44 into channel 85, and arms 84, 84' are formed with noselike rounded extensions I83 at their free ends to facilitate guiding of these arms over the loops of the corrugated wire and over the wire bending levers 25 during wire bending operations.

The wire bending or wire corrugating machine is adapted to effect continuous or intermittent corrugation of a wire. In the first case the bell cranks 22, 22 and 23, 23 are circumferentially mounted on master wheel 8 and so spaced from each other that the spring loaded bell cranks after completion of bending and stripping operations readily return to their starting positions. Should, however, the springs 34 fail to automatically reset the bell cranks, then spreader cam 5| on base plate 58 effects resetting and thus insures proper operation of the machine even under adverse conditions. Corrugating operations take place when master wheel 8 and shafts l5, l5 are rotated and cam levers 35, 38 and 35', 35' on cams 2|, 2| alternately engage cams 28, 28' of the respective bell cranks 22, 22' and 23, 23'. During such corrugatlng operations each bell crank for each rotation of master wheel 8 is rot-=- during stripping action, and finally returned to its starting position. In the second case the num- 7 her of bell cranks is less than the number of bores 3|! in master wheel 9, and the bell cranks are arranged in one or more predetermined areas of the peripheral surface of the master wheel. The number of bell cranks equals the number of loops in the finished corrugated wire and, in addition, means are provided (a) to hold the wire so as to permitstarting of corrugating operations at any desired point of the wire, and

(b) to bend and shape the last loop of the corrugations oi the wire.

The shape of the means for holding or gripping a wire prior to corrugating operations largely depends upon the shape of the first and last loops of the corrugations. For a wire member I04 having the shape shown in Fig. 15 of the drawings, the holding or gripping means consists of a starting block I05 adjustably attached to the periphery of master wheel 9 by means of a bolt I06. The starting block co-operates with the first bell crank III! in tightly gripping the wire and permits of proper bending of the wire by the following bell cranks. The end loop I08 of wire member I04 is formed against a button I09 abutting the wire when bell crank IIII forms end loop I08 of wire member I04. Wire members with half sized end loops (see member III shown in Fig. 17 of the drawings) cannot be formed with a stationary starting block and button as disclosed in Fig. 16, but necessitate means for holding and bending the wire 50 that the straight end portions of the finished wire member are substantially axially aligned. Such means consists of specifically constructed bell cranks H2, H3 and H4 at the starting side and similarly constructed bell cranks H5, H5 and II! at the finish side, The bell cranks at the starting side include bell cranks II2 with a short lever arm I I8, bell crank II3 with a substantially triangularly shaped head II! and a shorter lever arm I20, and bell crank II4 with a flattened end portion I 2I at its bending lever 25, portion I H being flattened opposite head H9 for co-operation therewith. The bell cranks H5, H6 and II! at the finish side are substantially equal in construction to bell cranks H2, H3 and H4 with the exception that the lever arm I22 on bell crank H5 is slightly shorter than the lever arm I I8 on bell crank II2 to prevent excessive overthrow at the end loop of wire member III, an arrangement which. of course, may be adjusted to suit any desired final shapes of a corrugated wire.

The types of corrugated wire springs shown in Figs. 15 and 17 are used for the construction of springs for automobile and furniture seat structures in which corrugations are arranged in deflnite areas of a wire. Such corrugations of a wire in definite areas is effected in the described wire bending machine by feeding a wire section a. predetermined distance into the machine, gripping the wire section as described above, corrugating the wire section by the desired number of bell cranks, stripping the corrugated wire from the bending arms of the bell cranks, and, finally. discharging the iormed wire from the machine. To facilitate these operations, a wire section I23 is fed into the wire bending machine either automatically or manually until the wire section engages a wire length gaging device I24 embodying a pivotally supported narrow stop plate I25 attached to the end of a rod I26. This rod is longitudinally adjustably mounted in a holder I 21 secured to housing 2 by means of bolts I28 and provided with a clamping device I29 for rod I 26. In wire bending operations a wire section I23 is fed into the wire bending machine so as to contact pivotally supported stop plate I25 and is stopped until the wire during gripping action by bell crank III! has been shifted laterally out of contact with said stop plate. In this position wire section I 23 can freely advance during the following bending operations and readily be dis charged from the machine after completion of such operations.

Proper shape of the loops of a corrugated wire can only be attained by bending the wire in excess of the desired shape of its loops. The necessary excess bending over and above the desired shape of the loops of a wire depends upon physical properties of the wire, hardness, elasticity, etc., and cannot be controlled in present day wire bending machines. The above described machine, however, permits full control of the excess bending of a wire by the provision of means permitting adjustment of the overthrow of wire bendinglevers 25. This is effected by a change in the relative positions of the wire bending cam members 22, 22' and 23, 23' with respect to their operating cams 2|, 2| with lever arms 35, 35 and 35', 35', all as previously described.

When the bell cranks have eflected their bending operation, these cranks are locked against rotation to avoid deformation of the wire loops during stripping operations by guidingthe bell cranks in channeled cam members I30 secured to housing 2 and positioned so that their channels I 3i engage the upwardly extended fingers 29 on the bell cranks and prevent rotary movements of said cranks while engaging said channels.

Preferably, housing 2 includes an oil pan I32 located below master wheel 9 so that the lower portionthereof extends into the oil and properly lubricates the movable parts on said wheel. the cams 2|. 2| and wire 24 contacting therewith. Before discharge from the machine the corrugated wire is fed through an oil wiping device I33 embodying co-operating pairs of brushes I34.

The corrugated wire produced by the wire bending machine is slightly curved, dueto the fact that corrugating or bending operations and stripping operations take place during rotation of master wheel 9 so that its peripheral surface forms the base upon which the wire rests. The radius of the curve of the corrugated wire, however, depends upon the position of wire guiding device 89 with respect to master wheel 8 and shifting of this device in one or the other direction with respect to master wheel 9 increases or decreases the curvature of the corrugated wire and permits proper control of the curvature even to the extent of reversing same. To efi'ect shifting of wire guiding device 89, this device is longitud nally adjustably mounted on housing 2 by providing in base member of said device elongated slots I35 and securing said device to hous ing 2 by bolts I36 extended through slots I35.

Stripping pins 45. as stated above, are yieldingly held in neutral position by springs 54 until actuated by cam means 55. This construction is not fully satisfactory as in case of breakage of a spring 54 the respective stripping pin might interfere with the action of its bell cranks and the other bell cranks. This danger is overcome by the provision of means positively retracting each stripping pin to neutral position should its spring break or for any other reason fail to retract the aaoaaoo "I each include a groove ill near their inner ends Ill, which groove co-operates with a ring or guide member ill having a reduced circular front edge ill.v This edge is extended into said groove and eflects positive retraction of the mmper pins should their springs 84 tail to do so. The ring or guide member which is attached to housing 2 includes a cam member I, which member eiiects stripping action. Removal of strip-- per pins I31 from master wheel I is made possible by providing ring or guide member ill with a removable sector 3 opposite opening I in housing 2. This sector is secured to member I by plates I45 and dimensioned for removal through opening I so as to give free access to the bell cranks and the stripper pins of the master wheel.

Having thus described our-invention, what we claim is: p

1. A wire bending machine embodying a plurality of bell cranks rotated in parallel planes about a common axis related at right angles to said planes, and rotatable cam means driven to engage in timed relation one arm oi! each bell crank to effect swinging movement or its other arm toward and through a plane arranged between said first mentioned parallel planes in parallel relation with respect thereto.

2. A wire bending machine embodying a plurality of bell cranks rotated in parallel planes about a common axis related at right angles to said planes, and rotatable cam means driven to engage in timed relation one arm of each bell crank in such a manner as to effect a swinging movement of the other arm of each bell crank toward and through a plane between said first mentioned spaced planes, said swinging movement of said other arm of said bell crank being in a direction substantially opposite to the direction of rotation of said bell crank about said common axis.

3. A wire bending machine embodying a plurality oi bell cranks rotated in parallel planes about a common axis related at right angles to said planes, and rotatable cam means arranged to rotate on an axis arranged substantially parallel to said parallel planes, said rotatable cam means engaging in timed relation and in an area adjacent to its plane of rotation one arm of each bell crank and effecting swinging movement of its other arm toward and through a plane arranged between said parallel planes.

4. A wire bending machine embodying a rotatable drum, a plurality of bell cranks radially mounted on said drum in parallel rows, rotatable cam means for actuating said bell cranks, said cam means being arranged at opposite sides of said drum and mounted to rotate on axes substantially parallel to planes through said parallel rows of bell cranks, means coupling said drum with said rotatable cam means for timed rotation about their axes with respect to each other, and means in said coupling means for changing the timed relation between said drum and said rotatable cam means. a

5. A wire bending machine embodying a rotatable drum, a plurality of bell cranks rotatably mounted on said drum in two parallel rows with the bell cranks of said two rows oflset with respect to each other, rotatable cam means for actuating the bell cranks of said rows alternately and in timed relation with respect to each other, said cam means being arranged at opposite sides of said drum in a plane intersecting the axis of opposite sides of said drum actuating said bell said drum, and means for rotating said cam me'ansandsaiddrumsothatsaidcammeans are shifted in a direction opposite to the direction 01 travel oi said bell cranks when said cam means actuate said bell cranks. i v

6. A wire'bending machine embodying a rotatable drum, a plurality of bell .cranks rotatably mounted on said drum in two parallel rows with the bell cranks of said two rows offset with respect to each other, rotatable cams arranged at cranks in timed relation with respect to each other when passing through a predetermined area, means for jointly driving said drum and said rotatable cams, and means in saiddriving means for adjusting the relative rotary position of said drum and said cams with respect to each other.

I. A wire bending machine embodying a rotatable drum, a plurality oi! bell cranks mounted in two rows on the peripheral surface of said drum,

a said bell cranks including wire bending arms and cam arms, rotatable cam means at opposite sides of said drum for rotating said bell cranks in opp site directions by engaging their cam arms to effect swinging of their wire bending arms alternately toward and through a plane between said rows or hell cranks and related at a right angle to the axis of said drum, and means oooperating with said bell cranks for holding same in predetermined positions when said drum and bell cranks rotate through predetermined areas.

8. A wire bending machine embo a rotatable drum, a plurality of left-handed and right-handed bell cranks mounted in rows on the peripheral surface of said drum, each of said bell cranks including wire bending arms, cam arms and a guiding finger, rotatable cam means at opposite sides of said drum for rotating said bell cranks inopposite directions by engaging their cam arms to effect swinging of their wire bending arms alternately toward and through a plane between said rows oi! bell cranks and related at a right angle to the axis of said drum. and means co-operating with the guiding fingers of said bell cranks for holding same when said drum and bell cranks rotate through predetermined areas.

9. A wire bending machine embodying a pinrality of bell cranks rotated in parallel planes about a common axis related at right angles to said planes, rotatable cam means driven to engage in timed relation one arm of each bell crank to efiect swinging movement of its other arm toward and through a plane arranged between said first mentioned parallel planes in parallel relation with respect thereto, and means for slidably holding said bell cranks against axial rotation when passing through a predetermined area.

10. A wire bending machine embodying 'a rotatable drum, a plurality of bell cranks mounted on said drum, rotatable'cam means driven to engage in timed relation one arm 01' each bell crank to eflfect swinging movement of its other arm for bending a wire, and stationary means including a pivot arm adapted to hold down such wire during bending operations.

.11. Awire bending machine embodying a rotatable drum, a plurality of hell cranks mounted on said drum, rotatable cam means driven to engage in timed relation one arm or each bell crank to efiect swinging movement of its other arm for bending a wire,.and stationary means including a vertically pivoted and adjustably tiltably mounted arm adapted to engage and hold down such wire during bending operations.

6 teams" on said drum in rows arranged circumterentially with respect thereto, rotatable cam means on opposite sides of said drum driven to engage one arm of each bell crank in said rows to eflect swinging movement or its otherarm in a direction substantially opposite to the direction or rotation of said drum and bending of a wire during rotary movement of said drum, and stationary means including a vertically mounted pivot arm for holding down such wire during bending operations.

14. A wire bending machine embodying a rotatable drum, a plurality oi bell cranks mounted on said drum, rotatable cam means mounted adjacent to the sides of said drum, means for jointly driving said drum and said rotatable cam means, said cam means engaging one arm 01' each bell crank to effect swinging movement or its other arm in a direction substantially opposite to the direction of rotation of said dnmi and bending of a substantially straight wire during rotary movement of said drum, and means for stripping the wire after bending from said other arm of said bell crank. I

15. A wire bending machine embodying a rotatable drum, a plurality of bell cranks mounted on said drum, rotatable cam means driven to engage in timed relation one arm of each bell crank and efl'ect a swinging movement of its other arm for bending a wire, and a stripping pin for each of said bell cranks radially slidably mounted in said drum for stripping the wire after bending from said other arm of said bell crank.

16. A wire bending machine embodying a rotatable drum, a plurality oi bell cranks mounted on said drum, rotatable cam means driven to engage in timed relation one arm of each bell crank to eiIect swinging movement of its other arm and therewith bending of a wire, a stripping pin for each of said bell cranks radially slidably mounted in said drum adapted to strip the bentwire from said other arm, and means co-operating with said bell cranks for holding same in predetermined positions while said stripping pins strip the bent wire.

17. A wire bending machine embodying a rotatable drum, a plurality of bell cranks mounted on said drum, rotatable cam means driven to engage in timed relation one arm of each bell crank to effect swinging movement of its other arm for bending a wire, individual stripping pins i'or'each of said bell cranks mounted in said drum, and means to actuate said stripping pins when said bell cranks are moving with said drum through a predetermined area during rotation 01' saiddrum.

18. A wire bending machine embodying a rotatable drum, a plurality of bell cranks mounted on said drum, rotatable cam means coupled with said drum to successively engage in timed relation one arm of each bell crank ior eiiecting swinging movement oi. its other arm and bending of a wire, a stripping pin for each of said bell" cranks radially slidably mounted in said drum and yieldingly held in non-stripping position byspring means, and stationary cam means for shifting said stripping pins to stripping positions when said' bell cranks are moved with said drum through a predetermined area.

19. A wire bending machine embodying a rotatable drum, a plurality of bell cranks radially mounted on said drum, rotatable .cam means mounted adjacent to the sides of said drum, means for Jointlydriving said drum and cam means to successively eiiect engagement of said cam means with the one arm of each bell crank and a swinging wire bendingmovement of its other arm, means for stripping a wire. bent by said other arms, and means for guiding and holding down the bent portions of such Wire during bending and stripping operations.

20. A wire' bending machine embodying a rotatable drum, a plurality of bell cranks radially mounted on said drum, rotatable cam means mounted adjacent to the sides of said drum, means for jointly driving said drum and cam means to successively efiect engagement of the one arm of each bell crank and swinging wire bending movement of its other arm, means for stripping a wire bent by said other arms, and

means for guiding the bent portions of such wire, said last means including spring loaded pivot arms engaging and holding down the bent portions of said wire in the bending and stripping area of said wire bending machine.

21. A wire bending machine embodying a rotatable drum, sets of left-handed and righthanded bell cranks on said drum arranged in two parallel rows, one row including all the left-handed bell cranks and the other row including all the right-handed bell cranks, rotary cam means arranged at opposite sides of said drum and driven in opposite directions with respect to each other to effect during rotation of said drum in a predetermined area'successive inward swinging movements of said bell cranks. 22. In a wire bending machine the combination of a rotatable drum having parallel rows of co-operating bell cranks and stripping pins mounted thereon, with rotatable cam means arranged to actuate the bell cranks on said drum in a predetermined area, and stationary cam means positioned'to actuate said stripping pins in another predetermined area.

23. In a wire bending machine the combination of a rotatable drum having parallel rows of co-operating bell cranks and stripping pins mounted thereon, with rotatable cam means arranged to actuate said bell cranks in a predeter mined area, stationary cam means positioned to actuate said stripping pins, and guiding means including pivotally supported guide members to effect during bending and stripping operations guiding and holding down of a wire fed into said machine.

24. In awire bending machine the combination of a rotatable drum having parallel rows of co-operating bell cranks and stripping pins mounted thereon, with rotatable cam means ar- 25. In a wire bending machine the combination of a rotatable drum having parallel rows of co-operating sets of left-handed and righthanded bell cranks and stripping pins mounted thereon, with rotatable cam means arranged to actuate said bell cranks and effect wire bending operations, stationary cam means positioned to actuate said stripping pins, and driving means coupled with said drum and said rotatable cam means to effect joint rotation of said drum and rotatable cam means in timed relation.

" 26. A wire bending machine embodying a. rotatable drum having sets of co-operating lefthanded and right-handed bell cranks mounted on said drum, rotatable cam ,rneans positioned to actuate said bell cranks when in a predetermined area, rotary driving means jointly rotating said drum and said rotary cam means, and .means coupling said driving means with said rotary drum and said rotary cam means, said coupling means 'including gearing having rotatably adjustably drum. rotary cam means for actuating said mounted gears for adjustment of the relative position of said drum with respect to said rotary cam means.

27. A wire bending machine embodying a housing, a shaft horizontally rotatably mounted in said housing, a drum mounted on said-shaft, sets of co-operating left-handed and right-handed bell cranks mounted on said drum for rotation therewith, vertically rotatable cam means positioned to actuate said bell cranks, driving means for rotating said drum and said rotary cam means, and gearing means adjustably coupling said drum and said rotatable cam means with each other to permit of changing their timed position with'respect to each other.

28. A wire bending machine embodying a housing, a shaft horizontally rotatably mounted in said housing, a drum mounted on said shaft for rotation therewith, sets of co-operating leitv handed and right-handed bell cranks mounted on said drum, rotatable cam means arranged at opposite sides of said drum to'actuate said bell cranks, and means adapted to rotate said drum and said rotary cam means simultaneously in timed relation with respect'to eachother, said last means including gearing adjustably couplug said drum and cam means with each other' to permit of changing their timed position with respect to each other.

' 29. In awire bending machine a'rotatable drum.

co-operating sets of bell cranks mounted on said cranks, and driving means coupled with said drum and said cam means for actuating same in timed relation, said sets of bell cranks including sets having bell cranks with operating cams arranged at one elevation and adjoining sets having bell cranks with operating cams arranged atanother elevation, and said rotary cam means including two angularly offset lever .arms arranged in said two elevations to alternately actuate. two of said sets of bell cranks during each revolution of said rotary cam means. 30I'1In a wire bending machine a rotatable drum; co-operating sets of bell cranks mounted on said drum, rotary cam means actuating said bell cranks, driving means, and gearing couplingsaid driving means with said drum and 'said cam means, said gearing including a gear embodying a gear hub, a ring gear rotatably mounted on said hub and means for rotating said ring-gear on its hub and locking said-gear in adjusted position with respect thereto.

31. A' wire bending machine embodying a rotatable drum, a plurality of wire bending bell cranks rotatably mounted on said drum, spring means on each of said bell cranks for holding "same in an inactive position, rotatable cam means an inactive position, rotatable cam means for actuating said bell cranks when carried by said rotary drum through a predetermined area. means for locking each of said bell crank against rotation when carried by said drum through another predetermined area after such a bell crank has been actuated upon and eflected wire bendbell v ing operations, and stationary cam means for positively shifting all of said bell cranks into their inactive positions.

33.. A wire bending machine embodying a rotatable drum, a plurality of bell cranks mountedon said drum, rotatable cam means driven to engage in timed relation one arm of each bell crank to efiect swinging movement of its other arm for bending a wire, and stationary means adapted to return said bell cranks to their starting positions when bending operations have been effected.

34. A wire bending machine embodying a rotatable drum, a plurality or hell cranks mounted on said drum, rotatable cam means driven to engage in timed relation one arm of each bell crank to eifect swinging movement of its other arm for bending a wire, and stationary wire hold down and bell crank returning means for holding down such wire during .bending operations and returning said bell cranks to their starting positions when bending operations have been eflfected.

35. A wire bending machine embodying a rotatable drum, a plurality of bell cranks mounted on said drum in rows arranged circumferentially with respect thereto, rotatable cam'means on opposite sides of said drum driven to engage one arm of each bell crank in said rows to effect swinging movement of its other arm in a. direction substantially opposite to the rotation of said drum and bending of a wire during rotary movement of said drum, and stationary cam means symmetrically arranged with respect to said rows 0! bell cranks and positioned to return said bell cranks to their starting positions when the wire bending operations have been affected and while passing through a predetermined area during rov tation of said drum.

:hold down means extended between said rows of bell cranks and pivotally shifted thereby during wire bending operations.

37. A wire bending machine embodying a reta'table drum, a plurality of bell cranks mounted on said drum in rows arranged circumferentially with respect thereto, rotatable cammeans at opposite sides of said drum driven to engage one arm of each bell crank in said rows to effect swinging movement of its other arm in a direction substantially opposite to the direction of said drum and bending of a wire during rotary movement of said drum, and vertically pivotally supported spring loaded wire hold down means extended between said rows of bell cranks and shifted to proper hold down positions by said bell cranks during wire bending operations.

38. A wire bending machine embodying a rotatable drum, a plurality of bell cranks mounted on said drum, rotatable cam means driven to engagein timed relation one arm of each bell crank and effect swinging movement of its other arm for bending a wire, a stripping pin for each oi said bell cranks radially slidably mounted in said drum'and stationary cam means for positively shifting said stripping pins into stripping position vwhen in a predetermined area and posiv tively holding such pins in inoperative position in all other areas during each revolution of said drum.

39. A wire bending machine as described in claim 38, wherein each of said stripping pins in- 1 cludes a circular groove near its inner end, and wherein said stationary cam means consists of a ring having a reduced circumferential edge portion extended into the grooves oi said pins for shifting and holding same when carried around with said drum.

40. A wire bending machine as described in claim 38', wherein each of said stripping pins includes a circular groove near its inner end, wherein said stationary cam means consists of a ring having a reduced circumferential edge portion extended into the grooves of said pins for shifting andholding same when carried around with said drum, and wherein said ring is made of at least two sections removably attached to each other to permit of ready disassembly and exchange of said stripping pins from said drum.

41. A wire bending machine embodying a rotatable drum, a plurality of bell cranks mounted on said drum, rotatable cam means driven to engage in timed relation one arm of each bell crank to eilect swinging movement of its other arm for bending a wire, and stationary guiding means for a wire formed with an elongated passage having flaring side walls at its inner end to permit of limited yielding shifting of said wire in said channel during wire bending operations.

42. A wire bending machine embodying a housing, a drum rotatably mounted in said housing, a plurality of bell cranks mounted on said drum, rotatable cam means mounted on said housing adjacent to the sides of said drum, means for jointly driving said drum, and cam means to successively eflect engagement of the one arm of each bell crank and swinging wire bending movement of its other arm, means for stripping a wire bent by said other arms, and means shiftably mounted on said housing for guiding the bent portion of such wire.

43. A wire bending machine as described in claim 42, wherein said wire guiding means'inelude symmetrically arranged spring loaded pivot arms formed with nose portions at their free ends and extended into the stripping and bending area of said wire bending machine, said arms yieldingly holding down the bends of said wire without interfering with the action of said bell cranks 44. A wire bending machine as described in claim 18, wherein each of said bell cranks includes a laterally extended cam lever adapted to co-operate with said rotatable cam means, a laterally extended wire bending lever adapted to bend the wire and an upwardly extended guiding finger adapted to engage the said holding means locking such bell cranks against rotation during stripping action.

45. A wire bending machine em y ng a rotatable drum, a plurality of bell cranks mounted on said drum in rows arranged circumferentially with respect thereto, rotatable cam means on opposite sidesof said drum driven to engage in each half revolution of said cam means one arm or a bell crank to eflect swinging movement of its other arm toward the other row for bending a wire between said rows, and means on said bell cranks for guiding the wire by one bell crank when bent by the said other arm 01' the adjoining bell crank.

46. A wire bending machine embodying a rotatable drum, a plurality of bell cranks mounted on said drum in rows arranged circumferentially with respect thereto, rotatable cam means with two vertically spaced operating'levers arranged at opposite sides of said drum, said cam means being driven to engage in each half revolution of said cam means one arm or a bell crank in each row of bell cranks to effect swinging movement of its other arm toward the other row for bending a wire between said rows, and the said one arms of adjoining bell cranks in each row of bell cranks being arranged in diflerent elevations for co-operation with the respective levers of said cam means to actuate two adjoining bell cranks in each row by each revolution of said rotatable excessive swinging movement of said other arm beyond the desired final shape of the bends in the wire to eifect a, set'in the bent wire, a stripping pin for each of said bell cranks mounted in said drum for stripping the bent wire from said other arm, and means co-operating with said bell cranks for slightly rotating same in an opposite direction and non-rotatably locking same in the desired position while said stripping pins strip the bent wire from said other arms.

48.. A wire bending machine comprising a rotatable drum, co-operating sets of left-and righthanded bell cranks mounted in spaced rows on said drum circumferentially thereof, rotary cam means for rotating said bell cranks successively to swing toward each other when rotating with said drum through a predetermined area, driving means coupled with said drum and cam means for rotating same in timed relation with respect to each other, stripping means on said drum, means for actuating said stripping means when rotating with said drum through another predetermined area, means for holding said bell cranks in non-rotating position when said stripping means are actuated, and means for returning said bell cranks to their starting positions prior to their rotation by said cam means.

49. In a wire bending machine two rows of cooperating wire bending bell cranks, means arranged substantially opposite to the first bell crank of one of said rows of bell cranks co-operating with said first bell crank in gripping a wire and holding same during wire bending operations, and means arranged substantially opposite to the last bell crank of one of said rows of bell cranks co-operating with said last bell crank in properly shaping the last bend in a wire.

50. In. a wire bending machine a rotatable drum, a plurality of bell cranks mounted on a sector of said drum, rotatable cam means driven to engage said bell cranks in timed relation, and means mounted on said drum substantially opposite to the first one of said bell cranks to effect gripping and holding of a wire at any desired point when said bell crank is actuated by said rotatable cam means.

51. In a wire bending machine a rotatable drum; a plurality of bell cranks mounted on a sector of said drum, rotatable cam means driven to engage said bell cranks in timed relation, means mounted on said drum substantially opposite to the first one of said bell cranks to effect gripping and holding of a wire at any deeiired point when said first bell crank is actuated by said rotatable cam means, and means mounted on said drum substantially opposite to the last one of said bell cranks and co-operating therewith during bending operations to properly shape the last bend in said wire.

52. In a wire bending machine a plurality of symmetrically constructed leftand right-handed wire bending bell cranks arranged in parallel rows, said bell cranks including bell cranks with wire bending arms of equal length to efiect symmetrical zigzag bending of a wire, and bell cranks with wire bending arms of different length than the wire bending arms of said first bell cranks.

53. In a wire bending machine a plurality of symmetrically constructed leitand right-handed wire bending bell cranks arranged in parallel rows, said bell cranks including bell cranks with wire bending arms of equal length to eflect symmetrical zigzag bending of a wire, and other bell cranks with wire bending arms shorter in length than the wire bending arms of said first bell cranks, said other bell cranks being arranged in front of said first bell cranks and dimensioned to prevent axial and lateral shifting of a wire during wire bending operations.

54. In a wire bending machine a plurality of symmetrically constructed leftand-right-handed wire bending bell cranks arranged in parallel rows, said bell cranks including bell cranks with wire bending arms of equal length to effect symmetrical zigzag bending of a wire, and other bell 1 cranks with wire bending arms shorter in length than the wire bending arms of said first bell cranks, said other bell cranks being arranged at opposite ends of said rows of bell cranks and dimensioned to prevent axial and lateral shifting of a wire during bending operations and effect proper bending of the last loop of such a wire.

55. In a wire bending machine a plurality of symmetrically constructed leftand right-handed wire bending bell cranks arranged in parallel rows, said bell cranks including bell cranks with wire bending arms of equal length to effect symmetrical zigzag bending of a wire, and other bell cranks with wire bending arms shorter in length than the wire bending arms of said first bell cranks, said other bell cranks being arranged at opposite ends of said rows of bell cranks, and shaped and dimensioned to prevent axial and lateral shifting of a wire positioned therebetween, and said other bell cranks bending such wire so that its end portions extend in axial alignment with the bent portion of said wire.

56. In a wire bending machine a plurality of wire bending bell cranks, means arranged substantially opposite to the first one of said bell cranks co-operating therewith in grippng a wire and holding same during initial wire bending,

operations, and stop means arresting a wire when fed a predetermined distance into said machine to efiect gripping and bending of said wire at a predetermined point.

57. In a wire bending machine a plurality of wire bending bell cranks, means arranged substantially opposite to the first one of said bell cranks co-operating therewith i n gripping a wire and holding same duringinitial wire bending operations, and stop means including a pivotally supported stop plate for arresting a wire fed a predetermined distance into said machine, said first bell crank effecting lateral displacement of said wire during gripping operations to shift said wire out of contact with said stop plateand the pivotal support of said plate permitting free advancing of said wire during bending operations.

58. A wire bending machine embodying a rotatable drum, a plurality of bell cranks mounted on said drum in parallel rows arranged circumferentially with respect thereto, rotatable cam means at opposite sides of said drum, means to drive said drum and cam means in timed relation to effect alternate actuation of the bell cranks in said rows for bending a wire alternately in opposite directions.

59. In a-wire forming machine, the combination of a rotatable wheel, a radially outer portion of a segment of the circular area defined by its rotation comprising a forming station, a plurality of wire engaging and forming means movably supported on said wheel and carried thereby in succession past said forming station, and means 'for moving said wire engaging and forming means, as they arrive in succession at said forming station, alternately from opposite directions into the wire occupying space of said formin station.

60. In a wire forming machine, thecombination of a plurality of wire engaging and forming elements, means for moving said elements in succession alternately from opposite directions into and out of deforming engagement with the wire operated upon to form oppositely directed loops therein, and means adjacent said wire engaging and forming elements and movable relatively thereto along a line substantially normal to the plane of said'loops as formed to strip the latter from said forming elements.

61. In a wire forming machine, the combinaplurality of wire engaging and forming elements, rotatable means for moving said elements in succession alternately from opposite directions into and out of deforming engagement with the wire operated upon to form oppositely directed loops therein, and means for maintaining said succession of elements in engagement with the formed wire for a time suiiicient such that at least two loops are at all times thus supported and that portion of the wire just formed accordingly securely anchored to facilitate deformation in the stated manner of the succeeding portion thereof.

62. In a wire forming machine, the combination of a plurality of axially rotatable wire engag-

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